Paolo Banchero

[nolang1]

I feel like at some point we should have a separate forum dedicated solely to arguing about whether a prospect is an inch taller or shorter than listed - use all the photos and videos you want and pay no mind to how someone's posture or their location relative to the camera can make a difference!

all jokes aside i've considered this.

I mean it really seems to be at least a plurality of posts in this forum, and getting rid of them would lead to a much higher concentration of at least somewhat informative posts. Either it would dissuade people from clogging up threads with stupid posts or they'd at least have a more appropriate outlet for them - there is literally no downside to it other than making people who get off on hearing themselves spout off BS feel less important.

[SNPA]

I feel like at some point we should have a separate forum dedicated solely to arguing about whether a prospect is an inch taller or shorter than listed - use all the photos and videos you want and pay no mind to how someone's posture or their location relative to the camera can make a difference!

all jokes aside i've considered this.

You are both WRONG! He is clearly 6’10’’ in shoes. The picture proves that, look who he is standing next to. We have pictures of that guy standing next to a yard stick when he was 18. His mother is 5’8’’ according to her Facebook page and we have many photos of different angles with them next to each other nearby one of those “you must be this tall to ride” a ride signs at amusement parks. And the lighting also demonstrates clearly that he is one inch taller than you are trying to slander him as being. Look at their shoulders! SHAME ON YOU.

-Inaugural post on height forum.

[GSWFan1994]

Yes, it's very weird, to say the least, seeing multiple threads with these "height this", "height that" posts.

I get confused and I don't know what to write. I've seen a lot of creepy fetishes over the years, and this is going to take the cake if it keeps going on.

[Hal14]

Yes, it's very weird, to say the least, seeing multiple threads with these "height this", "height that" posts.

I get confused and I don't know what to write. I've seen a lot of creepy fetishes over the years, and this is going to take the cake if it keeps going on.

It's really not that weird.

1) It's basketball. Height matters. Banchero is listed at 6'10" but you watch him play and it wouldn't surprise anyone if he's actually 6'8" or 6'9". Holmgren is listed at 7'0" but who knows, he could be 6'11" or 7'1".

It matters.

In these threads we're talking about how good they project as NBA prospects. Height matters. Big difference between 6'8" and 6'10" and between 6'11" and 7'1" when projecting a player as an NBA prospect.

2) It's also anyone's guess really as far as what height they really are because at these early levels, when the kid is only in high school or they're playing pro overseas but they're only 18 yrs old, the chances are pretty good that whatever height they are listed at is not accurate. the older the player is, and the higher level they are playing at (highest being NBA obviously). the greater the chances are that the listed height is accurate. Hell, you still have NBA players who we're not even sure about. KD's real height is still a mystery, and most celtics fans are convinced that Robert Williams is 6'9", or even 6'10" rather than his listed height of 6'8". Why does it matter? Because lots of people say that Robert Williams is undersized at the center position or that he's not worth the $ the team just paid him on his contract extension - well guess what, people are only saying that cause they think he's only 6'8"

3) With that being said, I think we do go overboard on here with the height talk. It got a little ridiculous in the Sengun thread, with literally like over 10 pages of the thread were talking about his height..

[GSWFan1994]

(...)

I know. I agree with everything you said.

I still find it strange with the astounding ammount of back and forth regarding this height thing.

I just picture Evan in his mansion, Havana cigar in hand, a glass of wine in the other, opening up his notebook and looking for threads...

"Ahem, here I go, the height sommelier will strike again..."

[UcanUwill]

Height matters in basketball, but playing matters more. I mean if you see guy dominate and play well, what is the matter that he is shorter, he can do it regardless. Like Davion Mitchel last year, when news that he is shorter arrived, some people decided he can no longer play defense the way he has played it, cause hes short now. Like, what? I know that we projecting how games will translate to higher level here, and we need to take all factors in, but I dont think few centimeters or an inch ever mattered that much over the fact how well or not well guy just knew how to play the game. NBA is short nowadays anyway, size is often a disadvantage even.

[DCasey91]

All that I know is Paolo is well sized for a PF/SF in the NBA and then some. Who cares if he’s 6”9” to 6”11,

Cade lied he ain’t 6”8”

Men lie all the time lol

But really he’s a 208cm++ 115kgs++ wide girth with natural bulk everywhere, that’s a huge grown lad.
He slimmed down out of all things lol.

Tatum hit the weights... Paolo’s frame is basically what Tatum’s is now. Enormous is an understatement.

If he can handle the ball and shoot and playmake
it’s basically Pistons Griffin starting sooner.

He’s my number one now. But it’s a wait and see between him and Chet.

[DCasey91]

Height matters in basketball, but playing matters more. I mean if you see guy dominate and play well, what is the matter that he is shorter, he can do it regardless. Like Davion Mitchel last year, when news that he is shorter arrived, some people decided he can no longer play defense the way he has played it, cause hes short now. Like, what? I know that we projecting how games will translate to higher level here, and we need to take all factors in, but I dont think few centimeters or an inch ever mattered that much over the fact how well or not well guy just knew how to play the game. NBA is short nowadays anyway, size is often a disadvantage even.

Sorry to tell you but size + skills has never been more advantageous then it is now. Look the past champs or any champs.

You know why the Jazz and Blazers are paper tigers? Size with skill matters always has and always will be.

GSW had Klay, Iggy, Thompson and Durant

Now slow plodding PF/C’s different story. Skill

Bucks literally halfway through the Hawks and the Suns series woke up and realized they are huge boys and just smashed mini teams inside.

Lakers and Bucks make a mockery of small ball.

Nets don’t lack size in their superstars too. Namely Harden at the PG spot, and KD with a longer wingspan than Giannis.

Size in Sports has always mattered.

[Duke4life831]

All that I know is Paolo is well sized for a PF/SF in the NBA and then some. Who cares if he’s 6”9” to 6”11,

Cade lied he ain’t 6”8”

Men lie all the time lol

But really he’s a 208cm++ 115kgs++ wide girth with natural bulk everywhere, that’s a huge grown lad.
He slimmed down out of all things lol.

Tatum hit the weights... Paolo’s frame is basically what Tatum’s is now. Enormous is an understatement.

If he can handle the ball and shoot and playmake
it’s basically Pistons Griffin starting sooner.

He’s my number one now. But it’s a wait and see between him and Chet.

Paolo aint playing the 3 in the NBA though. I think the biggest question with Paolo at the moment is will he have the size to play small ball 5 in the NBA. If Paolo can be a 4 in the NBA with the ability to play some minutes at the 5 as well then that versatility really helps him out.

[clyde21]

Paolo isn't a 3, he's a 4...only question is if he's got the size/chops to move up to the 5 in small ball situation, which would make him much more valuable, but yea, no way am i looking at Paolo as a 3 at this point

[DCasey91]

(3/4) It’s the NBA nowadays, there’s the two wing combo. Two big combo, 3 guard combo etc etc.

What I’m alluding to is that I don’t question if he’s sized up enough to play NBA ball lol.

[CptCrunch]

Playing small ball 5 is not a good thing at all.

You rather be an oversized 3, legit 4 than a small ball 5.

Paolo is undisputedly PF sized and huge looking on the court.



Adrian Griffin Jr is listed at 6'6" at Duke, 6'7". He is likely SG/SF sized for the NBA. Paolo towers above him (regardless of the angle in the photo).

[clyde21]

lol @ 'playing small ball 5' not being a good thing, its probably the most important thing for a Paolo archetype if you want to talk about unlocking his ceiling, guys like Julius Randle and Blake Griffin would have much more juice and impact if they could legitimately play small ball 5, instead they are limited to essentially just being 4s in most lineups strictly.

also Griffin looks much closer to like 6-4 or 6-5 to me on tape but we'll see.

[reamily]

He's a big, the question now is does he have tools to be not another Bagley or Jahlil Okafor..Once in a generation is already gravy but a decent top 2 guy on a good team( zions floor) for next 7 years should be a success story for him already.

[CptCrunch]

lol @ 'playing small ball 5' not being a good thing, its probably the most important thing for a Paolo archetype if you want to talk about unlocking his ceiling, guys like Julius Randle and Blake Griffin would have much more juice and impact if they could legitimately play small ball 5, instead they are limited to essentially just being 4s in most lineups strictly.

also Griffin looks much closer to like 6-4 or 6-5 to me on tape but we'll see.

You want your big playing SF instead of C. Wing skills and shot jacking skills develop faster playing from the wing instead of being forced to boxout in the post wasting valuable developmental minutes.

[clyde21]

lol @ 'playing small ball 5' not being a good thing, its probably the most important thing for a Paolo archetype if you want to talk about unlocking his ceiling, guys like Julius Randle and Blake Griffin would have much more juice and impact if they could legitimately play small ball 5, instead they are limited to essentially just being 4s in most lineups strictly.

also Griffin looks much closer to like 6-4 or 6-5 to me on tape but we'll see.

You want your big playing SF instead of C. Wing skills and shot jacking skills develop faster playing from the wing instead of being forced to boxout in the post wasting valuable developmental minutes.

that doesn't make any sense...if my big is playing SF he's no longer my big, he's my SF...and what exactly makes Paolo a wing and not a big? just because he's can dribble it a little bit? so can Blake and so can Randle, doesn't mean they should be playing the 3 hole.

and not really sure why u think Paolo should be defending wings all game, are you actively trying to sabotage him or something?

[Hal14]

In this video with shorter hair, he looks shorter (especially when he brings the ball up at 3:21 mark) definitely doesn't look 6'10"..

Watch on YouTube

[NO-KG-AI]

Definitely big enough to play C if he cares about defense as much as offense. That’s a strong, athletic kid, lesser specimens have become solid to great defenders, but they were also guys that focused on that becuase it was the only way to keep their job.

Again, we’re back to the obsession of putting a big on the wing, lol, even one that’s more of a burly bruiser than long super athlete.

[CoreyVillains]

Put together a pre season scouting video for Banchero. Dude is a physical monster and has all the tools. Doesn’t always go as hard as he can. Gonna be interesting to see if the increase in comp and what should be a lesser offensive load will help him get after it on both ends. Having said that, still think he ends up number one overall next year.

Watch on YouTube

[Duke4life831]

Put together a pre season scouting video for Banchero. Dude is a physical monster and has all the tools. Doesn’t always go as hard as he can. Gonna be interesting to see if the increase in comp and what should be a lesser offensive load will help him get after it on both ends. Having said that, still think he ends up number one overall next year.

Watch on YouTube

I disagree that he is a physical roster and has all the tools. If that was the case he would be the obvious #1 pick. Every measurement he has pretty much had a 1:1 height to wingspan. So say he ends up being 6'8 with a 6'8 or 6'9 wingspan. Then throw in the fact he isn't a bad athlete by any means, but he also isn't a great athlete. He isn't some explosive leaper that can make up for a lack of size with getting an extra 5-6 inches on his vert.

Now if he does end up being 6'10-6'11 and has a 6'11-7' wingspan. The idea of him playing the small ball 5 is not just plausible, but pretty obvious. But again the question is where does he land, is he 6'8 or is he 6'10-6'11?

Now is there the possibility that he can be a PJ Tucker kind of defender but in a 6'8 body? Sure if that happens him playing the small ball 5 can still be a thing. But as of right now he isn't viewed as that kind of defensive prospect.

Im very much looking forward to him at Duke this year and I have him on my top tier of prospects this year. But his physical tools are probably his biggest question mark at the moment in my opinion.